Emelianenko's win had a family affair feel as his loved ones, trainers and managers streamed into the ring afterward for pictures. Russian president Vladimir Putin also entered to give the fighter a public congratulation.

Billed as a retirement fight, Emelianenko recently has hinted he might continue on with his career, though his post-fight speech wasn't translated into English.

Rizzo wasn't much more than cannon fodder for Emelianenko's fast punches. Although he managed to elude an early flurry, he took several hard leg kicks before the combination that first dropped him and then removed him from consciousness. The official stoppage came at the 1:24 mark of the first round.

Following a disastrous 1-3 run under the Strikeforce banner, Emelianenko (34-4) has now racked up three straight wins. Rizzo (19-10), meanwhile, sees a three-fight streak snapped.